PCB boss meets ICC president

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New Delhi - Pakistan Cricket Board chairperson Ijaz Butt met the head of the International Cricket Council (ICC) in India on Thursday, with the spot-fixing betting scandal thought to be high on the agenda.

ICC president Sharad Pawar, who is also India's agriculture minister, hosted at the meeting at his residence in New Delhi.

Pakistan players Mohammad Aamir, Mohammad Asif and Salman Butt have all written to the ICC saying they will defend themselves over disciplinary action brought against them, their lawyers confirmed this week.

Pakistan's tour of England has been overshadowed by newspaper allegations of a betting scam involving no-balls being deliberately bowled in the fourth Test against England at Lord's last month.

The claims, published in the News of the World, led to the suspension of Pakistan Test captain Salman Butt and bowlers Aamer and Asif by the ICC.

Tony Hill, one of the match umpires, revealed on Thursday that he and colleague Billy Bowden suspected the no-balls were deliberate, but were a tactic to unsettle the batsmen rather than a betting scam.

Thursday's meeting was also likely to cover the possible resumption of fixtures between India and Pakistan, but no official agenda was released.